When a client hands over the keys to their office or home, they’re placing a tremendous amount of trust in your cleaning company. That trust impacts everything from client retention to your ability to secure the right cleaning business insurance and bonding. Background checks are a smart, proactive way to protect that trust, reduce liability, and strengthen your insurance profile.
Why Do Cleaning Companies Perform Background Checks?
In the cleaning industry, employees and subcontractors work in sensitive environments, often unsupervised. As such, background checks are a crucial layer of risk management. They signal professionalism, protect clients and staff, and can even influence your eligibility for commercial insurance and bonding.
How Do Background Checks Support Cleaning Business Insurance and Bonding?
Insurers and surety providers assess risk from multiple angles, and your hiring practices are part of the equation. Conducting employee background checks demonstrates that your company takes risk seriously — something underwriters value. A clean hiring record can support eligibility for janitorial insurance policies that include crime coverage, employee dishonesty bonds, and general liability.
Plus, a documented screening process helps reduce incidents that lead to claims, like theft or misconduct. Fewer claims not only mean fewer headaches; they may also help you maintain or even lower your insurance costs. In some cases, background checks are a non-negotiable requirement for bonding, particularly when working with government or corporate clients.
5 Reasons Your Cleaning Company Should Run Background Checks
Hiring someone to represent your cleaning business isn’t just about filling a position — it’s about protecting everything you’ve built. Whether you’re sending a crew into a corporate office or a private residence, your team is your brand. Here’s why background checks should be a standard part of your hiring process.
1. Build Client Trust
Your clients want to know who’s walking through their front door. When you can confidently say that every member of your team has been vetted, it builds credibility and sets you apart from less diligent competitors.
2. Prevent Internal Theft and Fraud
Cleaning companies are vulnerable to theft claims simply due to the nature of the work. Background checks won’t eliminate risk entirely, but they help reduce the odds of hiring someone with a history of dishonest behavior.
3. Qualify for Bonding and Insurance
Many insurance and bonding providers require proof of due diligence when it comes to hiring. A solid screening process could be the difference between qualifying for a policy and not.
4. Protect Your Company’s Reputation
One bad hire can damage your brand. Whether it’s a social media complaint or a legal issue, the consequences can be costly. A background check is a simple safeguard that helps you avoid PR headaches.
5. Show Compliance and Professionalism
Thorough background screening sends a message: you care about doing things the right way. It’s a clear signal to clients, employees, and partners that you’re operating with integrity and intention.
Protect What You’ve Built
You’ve invested time, energy, and resources into building a cleaning company your clients can count on. Background checks are one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to protect that investment and to improve your standing with insurers.
Just as important, conducting background checks in a consistent, legally compliant way helps you avoid issues with discrimination claims. Be sure your screening process aligns with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance to ensure fair and lawful hiring practices.
At Moody Clean Insurance, we specialize in helping cleaning businesses align their operations with stronger, smarter insurance coverage. Let’s talk about how your screening practices can support your eligibility for comprehensive commercial and residential cleaning insurance, bonding, and more. Request a consultation or customized quote today.
About Moody Clean Insurance
One relationship with a cleaning franchisor started it all. Over the next 20 years, that one relationship has expanded and multiplied. Moody is now one of the largest providers of insurance to independent and franchise cleaning businesses throughout the country. Relationships start with a conversation, so let’s talk. We look forward to learning about your operations and sharing what we’ve learned through decades of protecting cleaning businesses like yours.
